Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, teams with the Scissor Sisters for a Halloween-themed video that touts the band's latest album, Night Work. In the clip, Elvira says she likes Ana Matronic, who is shown getting ready for the holiday by inserting razor blades into apples, but not the guys, who she wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole. The horror hostess, known for her bawdy quips, is quick to add that the guys would touch her only if she had a 10-foot pole.

Elvira also reveals an upcoming video for the band's song "Invisible Light" with a cameo by Sir Ian McKellen and mentions the band's 2011 tour as opening act for Lady Gaga.

Transgender superstar Amanda Lepore even pops up to offer a weather forecast.

For the epic 200th episode of "Dancing With the Stars," the series is planning to pull out all the stops, and that includes more than a few cameos from past contestants.

Melanie Brown and Helio Castroneves will both join the judging panel as guests, and winners Apolo Ohno and Kristi Yamaguchi will lead two teams of remaining contestants in a cha-cha-cha battle royale.

But who do the former champs get to work with? After the Week 6 results show, ABC revealed the teams.

Kristi's team: Bristol Palin, Rick Fox & Kyle Massey

Apolo's team: Jennifer Grey, Brandy & Kurt Warner

So there you have it. The two seem evenly matched, but if Kurt and Jennifer plan on turning around their low scores this week, you can bet they'll come in with guns a' blazing. And by guns... we mean feet.

Less than two months after exiting American Idol, Kara DioGuardi is heading back to television as the head judge on Going Platinum, a new song-writing competition on Bravo, the network confirms.

"Hit songs are the backbone of the music industry, and as a publisher, nothing excites me more than finding new songwriting talent," DioGuardi says. "I am happy to be a part of a show that helps up and coming songwriters pursue their dreams, while giving the public a look into the creative process."

Jewel will host the show and help judge the competition, along with a music executive and celebrity guests. Going Platinum starts taping this month and will premiere in 2011.

The show will follow 12 musicians as they write music and lyrics for different genres, from hip-hop to love songs to dance tracks. The winner will receive a $100,000 prize, as well as music-publishing and recording deals.

A source familiar with the show says it's a good fit for DioGuardi because "at heart, she's a songwriter. Idol was performance-driven. This isn't just about finding the next big singer – it's about finding a hit maker, and she loves to nurture talent."

Charlie Sheen was found drunk and reportedly naked in a New York hotel early Tuesday morning.

"Police responded to a call for an intoxicated male," a source confirmed. Sheen, 45, was taken to the hospital "in the company of a female, unharmed." He was removed from the scene for "for alcohol abuse and psychological evaluation" and considered an "aided case," meaning no arrest was made.

According to Sheen's rep, "What we are able to determine is that Charlie had an adverse allergic reaction to some medication and was taken to the hospital, where is expected to be released tomorrow."

A police source told People magazine, "I believe he was irrational and intoxicated." Sheen was taken voluntarily to New York Columbia Presbyterian Hospital by ambulance.

Police were sent to The Plaza Hotel in midtown New York after a call from hotel security, according to the New York Post. The room was trashed when police responded, including damage to a chandelier and hotel furniture.

Sheen, in addition to being recently rehabbed, less than a month ago walked his daughter down the aisle. The Two and a Half Men star is visiting the city with ex-wife Denise Richards, 39, who accompanied him to the hospital, and their two daughters.

The rock-n-roll-themed episode has everyone on Dancing With the Stars all shook up.

Jennifer Grey fell from grace, failing to impress judges Monday night with her Paso Doble. The actress and partner Derek Hough's combined score with the bonus free-for-all round was 29, only one point higher than struggling regulars Bristol Palin and Mark Ballas. Kurt Warner and Anna Trebunskaya, meanwhile, ended up in last place with a meager total of 22.

So who was sent packing?

In a shocker, Audrina Patridge was eliminated. She and partner Tony Dovolani had been tied with Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke for second place after each pair scored all eights.

"I've had so much fun this entire experience," said Patridge. "Tony has been such an amazing teacher." To the judges, she added, "Thank you for all the comments."

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

It's Halloween. What's a Gleek to do? Let's put on The Rocky Horror Picture Show is what Will (Matthew Morrison decides to do!

The reason that New Directions is putting its spin on the 1975 cult classic (at least according to the plot) is that Emma's (Jayma Mays) a big fan and Will wants to impress Emma, so... it's time for "Time Warp."

That's Kurt (Chris Colfer) underneath the bald Riff-Raff wig, by the way. Movie alums Barry Bostwick and Meat Loaf are in the guest cast, playing station managers at the TV station where Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) hurls her "As Sue Sees It" darts. And, yes, Sue's scheming to stop the show.

The Halloween-themed episode will be broadcast tonight at 8:00 pm (ET) on FOX.

The handsome star of such films as Enchantment, 27 Dresses, Hairspray, The Box and this year’s Death at a Funeral has been cast in a guest spot on Modern Family as a hunky neighbor of Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Fergerson).

According to TV Guide’s William Keck, Marsden’s “presence causes the boys’ temperatures to rise every time he whips off his shirt (think Matthew McConaughey in every paparazzi photo.) Wouldn’t it be fun if this eye candy role ended up being recurring?”

Marsden is a terrific actor who happens to be straight and is very appreciative of his gay fan base.

He played gay in the indie flicks Heights as a guy engaged to a women but having an affair with a gay man played by Jesse Bradford; and in the very intense The 24th Day opposite Scott Speedman. He played a guy who infected Speedman with the HIV virus during a one-night stand.

Paula Abdul has a tip for anyone trying out for her new show: Don't bore her.

"We want people that are unique and passionate about dancing and ones that will show me something I haven't seen before," Abdul told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show Monday of her new competition show on CBS, Live to Dance.

The former American Idol judge says viewers will be treated to a no-holds-barred approach to dance.

"We're looking for all forms of dance and you can be any age, any style of dance, [and] any number of people or individuals can get on stage," she says. Abdul also recommends that dancers "fuse styles together," suggesting a tap-dancer could perform with a hip-hop group in the same number.

Despite her excitement for the new project, Abdul confesses to Seacrest that she still pines for the days she worked with him and Simon Cowell on Idol, telling the radio host, "I miss you guys so much."

Live to Dance will premiere on CBS in January.

Got rhythm? The next round of auditions will be Thursday at 8:00 am (PT) at CenterStaging in Burbank, California.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Too funny to see Yolanda Be Cool's 'We No Speak Americano' in the top 40! (It's been spinning in the club scene forever it seems like!), major move up for Pink's new track 'Raise Your Glass,' really solid debut for new Taylor Swift track 'Back to December' and, of course, a new no. 1:

A Meteorologist at San Angelo, Texas' KLST station recently discovered a massive penis of thunderstorms preparing to barrel through west Texas and penetrate its tip into Mexico. Video of this red-hot Weather Penis forecast can be seen below.

The LA Times today published an interesting article on the seemingly more gay-friendly attitude of this season of Sesame Street. While a Sesame Street spokeswoman says that "the idea that anyone would interpret [this season] that way never crossed our minds," apparently some viewers think otherwise.

From the LA Times article:

In its own subtle, perhaps unintentional way, the show's latest season feels more LGBT-friendly than ever. Lesbian comedian Wanda Sykes appeared on the show in October, following in the tradition of openly gay guest stars such as Neil Patrick Harris, who played ( cough, cough) "the shoe fairy" a few seasons back. A parody of "True Blood" — the HBO vampire drama that features several gay characters and draws many gay fans — aired in September. Recently, the Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am appeared on the show to sing "What I Am," a song about accepting who you really are, prompting much online debate about its underlying message. "Did Will.i.am just sing the next gay pride anthem on Sesame Street?" one commenter on AfterElton.com asked.

GLAAD weighs in on the discussion:

For Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), "Sesame Street" is simply reflecting its changing audience. "As more and more loving and committed gay and lesbian couples begin families, it's important that their children see representations of their families on their favorite shows," he says. "'Sesame Street' has a long history of teaching children about diversity and acceptance, and I don't expect that our community will be left out of that education.

The piece also makes note of this summer's cryptic "mo" tweet from Bert (did he or did he not come out?).

The singer, 42, gave birth to fraternal twin boys on Saturday at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, at 11:11 am and 11:12 am, her rep told People magazine.

"Celine, René and their son René-Charles are thrilled," says her rep.

One of the babies weighed in at 5 lbs., 4 oz., with the other at 5 lbs., 10 oz.

Dion's doctor, Ronald Ackerman, said at a press conference outside the hospital Friday evening that the delivery, done via C-section, went as expected. He also revealed that the twins were both born with a good amount of hair.

The twins are healthy, says Dion's rep, but will spend the next few days in an incubator because they were born premature.

"Celine is resting now and they plan to discuss what to name the boys when she wakes up," the rep adds. "René-Charles has been to the hospital to visit his brothers and is just so excited they are here."

Brand, 35, and Perry, 25, "were pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Brand on Saturday, October 23," the couple said in a statement. "The very private and spiritual ceremony, attended by the couples' closest family and friends was performed by a Christian minister and longtime friend of the Hudson Family. The backdrop was the inspirational and majestic countryside of Northern India."

The couple exchanged vows at a luxury resort. Earlier in the day, two elephants named Laxmi and Mala were seen arriving at the resort. As the animals walked into the venue, a red carpet was rolled out for them. "Mala is a bit skittish and hates crowds but she managed to behave herself," a source told People magazine.

In a traditional Indian wedding procession, known as the "bharat," the bridegroom and his male relatives and friends walk to the spot where the bride awaits. The bridegroom is often on a white horse, but an elephant is considered an even grander, more magnificent mode of transportation – the maharajas, or Indian royals, traditionally arrived at weddings on elephants.

The sound of Indian instruments – including the sitar, the santoor, the tabla and kettle drums – and the singing of traditional Rajasthani folk musicians could be heard from deep inside the Aman-i-Khas resort, along with some sacred Vedic chanting and the occasional burst of applause and cheering by the guests.

Multi-Day Celebration

In the days leading up to the nuptials, Brand and Perry have been pulling out all the stops.

The couple celebrated Friday night with a Bollywood-themed party at the Aman-i-Khas. Brand wore a white "kurta pyjama," an Indian outfit of loose informal trousers and a long baggy tunic, while Perry donned a plain red sari. Many of the guests were also in similar outfits.

"The young children looked very pretty, with the boys wearing small turbans too," says Rafiq Khan, who was inside the party as part of a musical tribute to the couple.

When guests arrived they were greeted with a colorful welcome: acrobats and jugglers in Indian outfits.

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Of The Opera sequel is to shut down in London for four performances while the production undergoes a series of changes.

The theatre mogul launched Love Never Dies, the follow-up to his long-running musical hit, in the West End this spring and the show is set to be rolled out internationally next year, with productions planned for Broadway, as well as Australia and Canada.

Lloyd Webber has now decided to shut down the London show for four performances next month while new lyrics and choreography are added.

The musical impresario admits the changes were made for the show's upcoming incarnation in Sydney in May and he decided to incorporate them into the already-running London production.

He says in a statement, "Some changes were written up over the summer and destined for the Australian production and, as they make improvements to the show, we'd be mad not to put them into the (London production)."

Always one to one-up the kids of McKinley High in her role as Sue Sylvester, Glee star Jane Lynch didn't pass up the opportunity to show the world what those stuffy sweatsuits on the show cover up.

While she may not be posing panty-clad next to a locker, like Lea Michele, or rocking a skimpy school uniform, like Dianna Agron, Lynch does prove in a photoshoot for More magazine that she can get racy, too.

The actress, 50, dons a leopard print ensemble in one picture and cozies up to a furry friend in another, all the while sharing the tongue-in-cheek photo-op with hunky, half-naked men.

But Glee's Cheerios coach has a serious side, as she reveals in an accompanying interview. She has been sober for nearly 10 years after she decided to ditch her "drinking culture" roots when she was 31. Although she says her problem was mild, she says she was sick of waking up hungover.

"Relatively speaking, my personal bottom was rather benign," she says. She'd joke at 12-step meetings, "Had I know I'd be telling my story over and over again, I would have made it a lot better."

The actress is settling down with her wife, psychologist Lara Embry, whom she met last year at a lesbian rights fundraiser.

"I'd never dated anyone that I wanted to marry," she says. "I didn't think it was going to be out there for me. But the minute we were married, I felt the difference. I felt like I am no longer alone."

And it's a double-high note: "I got married – and I married a doctor!"

Florida attorney general Bill McCollum announced Friday that he will not that he will not appeal last month’s ruling by a state appellate court striking down a state law barring gay people from adopting.

McCollum’s announcement puts a final end to the law after 33 years on the books. Gov. Charlie Crist and the Florida Department of Children and Families had already announced they would not challenge the decision.

The attorney general had until yesterday to decide whether he would challenge the decision.

“This law, by baselessly branding gay people unfit parents, was one of the most notorious anti-gay laws in the country, and we are delighted that it has been ended once and for all,” said Leslie Cooper, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU LGBT Project, who argued the case before Florida’s third district court of appeal. “This victory means that the thousands of children in Florida who are waiting to be adopted will no longer be needlessly deprived of willing and able parents who can give them the love and support of a family.”

Friday, October 22, 2010

Barring yet another delay, I Love You Phillip Morris is finally going to hit theaters on December 3rd and here is a new trailer for the highly-anticipated film starring Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor.

The film focuses on a love affair between a con man (Carrey) and his cellmate (McGregor). Carrey’s character commits all kinds of crazy misdeeds, like breaking out of Texas prisons four times, to be with his lover.

Morris premiered to raves at the Sundance Film Festival in 2009 but has been stuck in a distribution nightmare all year.

This trailer is the best one yet and seems to be more representative of the film than any of the previous clips. It makes me really want to see it!

Glee star Lea Michele is putting off plans to follow her TV co-stars Matthew Morrison and Mark Salling into the music industry by releasing her own album, because she's not ready to make such a "big commitment".

The singer/actress, who has shown off her powerful vocals on Broadway as well as on the hit TV musical, admits she would love to one day record a disc of her own songs, but she would need enough time to nurture the project from start to finish.

She tells Us Weekly, "I think it's definitely in my future, but that's a really big commitment. (Her Glee character) Rachel's my baby, and making an album would be like taking care of another baby. And I'm not really ready to have another kid yet!"

Morrison is set to make his mark on the pop charts in February with his debut solo album Bringing it to the Masses, while Salling releases his second album, Pipe Dreams, next week.

As Tuesday’s Rocky Horror Glee Show inches ever closer to our televisions, we’ve all by now seen the photos of various Glee cast members doubling as classic Rocky Horror characters like Riff Raff (Kurt), Columbia (Tina), Brad Majors (Finn), and the titular golden-speedo’d hunk Rocky Horror (the perpetually shirtless Sam).

Most curiously, it appears Amber Riley’s Mercedes is the one with the honor of stepping into the high-heels and black corset of Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Rocky Horror‘s cross-dressing provocateur-cum-ringmaster so memorably played by Tim Curry in the feature film. Aside from looking frighteningly fabulous, the character gets to belt one of the show’s best-known songs: “Sweet Transvestite.”

It turns out, however, that guest star John Stamos, who plays the new squeeze of guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays), was originally going to tackle the naughty anthem. While speaking with Entertainment Weekly ast month about his recurring role on Glee, Stamos said of the Rocky Horror episode, “I was supposed to be doing ‘Sweet Transvestite,’ but I think the network saw the script and was like, ‘Stamos in fish nets? It’s too soon!’” Stamos chuckles. “So they switched it up. I was bummed, because I wanted to play that part.” Indeed, if this leaked demo is to be believed, Stamos even recorded a version of the song. (You can check out Riley’s version of the song on iTunes, although the bad doctor’s hometown is now apparently “Sensational, Transylvania,” instead of “Transsexual, Transylvania.” Because Glee is always so chaste.) Fox has no comment.

Stamos instead donned a black leather jacket and straddled a motorcycle as ex-delivery boy Eddie, played in the film by Meat Loaf, for the song “Hot Patootie — Bless My Soul.” To prepare, Stamos — who’s headlined four Broadway musicals — said he “faked sickness” so he could work with a private vocal coach on the song. “And then we [recorded] the song, and they said, ‘OK, so here’s the dance.’ I was like, ‘Aw, my sickness has kind of come back.’ And then I rented out my own studio, and I got my own dance instructor, and worked at it.” He smiles earnestly. “I swear to you. I hope [the Glee producers] are not reading this.”

Stamos spoke with Entertainment Weekly the morning after he’d finished shooting the song. “My knees are killing me,” said the 47-year-old, wincing. “I had to slide across on my knees like 25 times. It’s a good first song for me to do on Glee, because it’s with all the kids, and we’re up, we’re dancing.” Even though last season on Glee Emma infamously snarked, “They say it takes more certainty than talent to be a star — I mean, look at John Stamos,” the actor says he’s “always loved” the show. “It’s really nice that this show worked. They goofed on me in the beginning, so I had to secretly watch it, because I loved it so much. I told everybody I hated it, but I was a closet Glee fan.”

If you were watching Elton John on The View yesterday, you might have heard him mention that he’s planning to release a duet with Lady Gaga. It’s something he’s alluded to before, but now we can report that the track, called “Hello, Hello,” will appear in the upcoming Disney animated film Gnomeo & Juliet, which is being produced by Sir Elton and his partner, David Furnish.

The charming pop track plays during the moment where the two lead characters, lawn ornaments named Gnomeo (voiced by James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt), meet for the first time.

The film hits theaters on February 11, 2011. No word yet on when the single will be released.

Christina Aguilera is relying on her mother, her son and her closest friends to help her through the emotional turmoil of her divorce from Jordan Bratman.

"It's not easy, and there have been a lot of tears and sadness. It's impossible to redefine yourself and your life overnight," the pop star, 29, tells Redbook in its November issue, on newsstands November 16th.

"Thankfully, I have my mom and a small group of close friends who are there for me 24/7 and whom I can trust and depend on. On days when it feels impossible to even get out of bed, much less function as a mother, their support and encouragement have kept me moving forward."

Also, her son Max, who will be 3 in January, remains a source of joy – and someone she can focus on. "Thankfully, I have Max to keep me on a sane path," Aguilera says. "His needs and happiness are my top priorities, and my biggest concern is to protect him and make him feel safe."

Asked about the details of her split, she adds: "Out of respect for my husband, I prefer to keep the specifics private. Right now, I'm just trying to figure out how to make it through each day."

After weeks of speculation as to whether or not Jennifer Lopez would star alongside her two-year-old twins, Emme and Max, in Gucci’s latest campaign, the fashion house finally confirmed this week that the beautiful threesome is indeed gracing the ads for the yet-to-launch line, which will hit stores in spring 2011.

And while Jennifer lends her flawless face and utterly adorable offspring to the campaign, in return, the fashion house will make a donation to UNICEF and the Maribel Foundation which Jennifer started with her sister Lynda, according to WWD.

Renowned fashion photographers, Mert Alas and Marcus Piggot captured the campaign this summer on the beach in Malibu, California where the adorable pack, dressed up in Gucci, got glam in the sand.

Of the five, Mike & Molly and Five-0 have emerged as the net’s biggest new hits — although the latter is beginning to look vulnerable on Mondays-at-10. The older-skewing Blue Bloods is Friday’s top show (and that’s among new and returning series), while $#*! continues to retain an acceptable percentage of its Big Bang lead-in on Thursdays. Lastly, The Defenders is holding its own on Wednesdays-at-10.

Reality star, dancer, and now author – is there anything Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino can't do? (Or anywhere he won't flash his abs?)

The Jersey Shore star and former Dancing with the Stars contestant has a new book coming out. Titled Here's the Situation: A Guide to Creeping on Chicks, Avoiding Grenades, and Getting in Your GTL on the Jersey Shore, the cover features, shockingly, a photo of a grinning Sorrentino flashing his famous abs.

The book is published by Gotham and will released on November 2nd.

The Situation may be the first author to come out of Jersey Shore, but his costar, Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi, is following in his footsteps, with plans to write a book of her own.

Penthouse magazine founder and longtime editor-in-chief Bob Guccione has died at the age of 79, according to the Associated Press. A statement issued by the Guccione family says he died at at Plano Specialty Hospital in Plano, TX. The publisher had battled lung cancer for several years.

Guccione launched Penthouse in the U.S. in 1969 as a more explicit competitor to Playboy. The magazine proved hugely successful and by 1982 Forbes was estimating that Guccione had a net worth of $400m. In September 1984, an issue of Penthouse which featured nude photographs of reigning Miss America Vanessa Williams sold almost 6 million copies. But over the next two decades, the magazine’s circulation declined and in 2004 Guccione lost ownership of the magazine.

Guccione also produced and financed the hugely controversial film 1979 film Caligula. The movie starred Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, and Peter O’Toole and featured explicit sex scenes which Guccione himself directed.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Lea Michele has thumbed her nose at the ubiquitous pressure in Hollywood to be perfect.

When she first started acting, people told her she needed to get a nose job – but with the encouragement of her mom, she held firm and refused.

"I was one of the only girls in my high school that didn't get one," Michele, 24, says in the November issue of GQ. "And if anybody needed it, I probably did. But my mom always told me, growing up, 'Barbra Streisand didn't get a nose job. You're not getting a nose job.' And I didn't."

For Michele, resistance was about more than the surgery. "That's why I'm proud," she says, "to be on a positive show and to be a voice for girls and say, 'You don't need to look like everybody else. Love who you are.' "

Another revelation comes from Cory Monteith, 27, who admits he got into a little trouble when he was in high school.

Monteith, who dropped out in ninth grade, was drawn to "this whole world of excitement and danger outside the doors of high school – this kind of renegade teenage lifestyle," he tells the magazine. "You have to really look to get into trouble in Victoria [Canada] ... but I was industrious. Skipping school. Drinking. All that kind of crap. Things started off innocent like that. I definitely found myself in some places that I'm very fortunate I came back from."

Bristol Palin found herself in a hairy situation Monday night on Dancing with the Stars.

The contestant – who celebrated her 20th birthday the same night – and partner Mark Ballas sported furry monkey suits during part of their jive routine, which failed to impress judges.

Dancing to the Monkees theme song on a night of TV-themed performances, Palin and Ballas earned just 18 points, landing them in last place, behind Kyle Massey, who scored 20, and Florence Henderson, who scored 21.

Did Palin pack up her Dancing shoes and head back to Alaska? Keep reading to find out who was kicked off during Tuesday's elimination show.

Bristol is safe! And so is Kyle! Instead, Henderson was told she earned the lowest combined score and was eliminated.

"I've been in TV for 50 years and I have to say honestly this has been one of the best produced shows I've ever been on," the Brady Bunch star said after she heard the news. "I've loved the show since it began. It's just a tremendous show."

Henderson, who danced with pro Corky Ballas, added, "I hope I've inspired people to get off their behinds and move and dance and live and enjoy life."

Today is "Wear Purple Day," also known as "Spirit Day." Join millions to show your support of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth by wearing purple to participate in Spirit Day and remember those teens who have taken their own lives as a result of anti-LGBT bullying. Like Tyler Clementi, who jumped off the George Washington Bridge after his college roomate and friend videotaped his private same-sex sexual experience and streamed it onto the internet.

Spirit Day was created by teenager Brittany McMillan earlier this month, in response to the recent spate of LGBT youth suicides, due to bullying. Spirit Day now counts millions of Americans committed on Facebook to wearing the color purple on Wednesday, October 20th, 2010.

On October 2nd on her tumblr blog Brittany posted:

It’s been decided. On October 20, 2010, we will wear purple in memory of the recent gay suicides. Many of them suffered from homophobic abuse in their schools or in their homes. We want to take a stand to say that we will not tolerate this. Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality. Please wear purple on October 20th to remember all the lives of LGBTQ youth that have been lost due to homophobia. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and schools.

As Brittany mentioned, purple symbolizes 'spirit' on the rainbow flag, a symbol for LGBT Pride that was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978. The goal of Spirit Day is to show LGBT youth who are victims of anti-LGBT bullying and harassment that there is a vast community of people who support them. As the event’s Facebook page says: "This event is not a seminar nor is it a rally. There is NO meeting place. All you have to do is wear purple."

Lt. Dan Choi, the out gay soldier who has been at the front of efforts to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, has re-enlisted in the US army.

Lt Choi, who is an Iraq veteran and Arabic linguist, was served with discharge papers in 2009 after coming out on national television.

After a US District Judge ruled that the ban on out gay soldiers should be immediately lifted last week, he went to a military recruitment centre in New York’s Time Square yesterday.

The Pentagon has directed military recruiters to accept applicants who declare they are gay, although such recruits must be warned that the ban’s legal situation may change,

After leaving the centre, Lt Choi told reporters outside that his application had been accepted, pending some medical paperwork.

According to Raw Story, he said: “They didn’t disintegrate in there. The unit cohesion is doing just fine.”

He added: “Able bodied, patriotic Americans, regardless of their orientation, are eligible to come on back and sign up to serve their country, openly, honestly, with integrity, acknowledging their partners, acknowledging their families and their lives as full citizens.

“I encourage everyone else to do that. Being in there today was absolutely exciting and absolutely vindicating.”

Some gay rights groups have warned potential recruits to keep quiet about their sexuality for now, as Judge Virginia Phillips’ ruling may be contested by the government at a higher court.

Lt Choi has become the poster boy for the fight to repeal the 1993 law.

During the summer, he twice chained himself to the White House fence to protest against the ban.

He was arrested on both occasions and refused to pay a fine, which led to a court appearance. He was cleared on charges of failing to comply with a lawful order.

President Obama promised he would repeal the law in his 2008 election campaign.

Under the current law, gay and lesbian soldiers must keep their sexual orientation secret. They can be fired if they, or someone else, reveals it.

A review is underway and expected to end in December, while troops are being surveyed on their views towards lifting the ban.

The Steven Slater saga is due to wrap up, with the former JetBlue flight attendant expected to plead guilty in Queens to one felony charge in exchange for no jail time.

Slater, who famously exited a JetBlue plane via the inflatable slide in August after a confrontation with a passenger, will agree to undergo mental-health counseling, and will have the felony charge dropped when he completes the program, WNBC-TV reports.

He had previously pleaded not guilty to various felony counts of reckless endangerment and criminal mischief.

Slater became a global sensation in the wake of his dramatic deplaning, but prosecutors said he could have killed or grievously injured anyone standing on the tarmac below the inflatable plastic chute.

Slater had claimed that a passenger became abusive with him aboard a flight during a dispute over luggage. But a number of passengers later stepped forward to challenge his account.

Tom Bosley, the folksy father of Richie Cunningham on the '70s sitcom about the '50s, ABC's Happy Days, died Tuesday in his Palm Springs, California, home. On October 1st, he had turned 83.

The actor died of a staph infection, according to TMZ, which first reported his death.

Before finding fame on the small screen, Bosley won a Tony for starring as the beloved New York City Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in the Pulitzer-Prize-winning 1959 musical Fiorello!. He also made a memorable mark in the 1964 Peter Sellers cult comedy The World of Henry Orient, as the too-understanding husband of Angela Lansbury's character.

After Happy Days, he would frequently costar with Lansbury on her CBS series, Murder She Wrote.

Reacting to Bosley's death, his Happy Days costar Henry Winkler expressed his sadness, telling Los Angeles's KNX-1070 News Radio, "I'm in shock, I really am. I spoke to him just a few weeks ago and he seemed to be getting his strength back."

Born in Chicago, Bosley was the younger son of a real estate broker father and a former concert pianist mother. "We were fairly wealthy until the stock market crashed," he told People magazine in 1979, during the Happy Days craze. "When I was 2, my father lost all his money." His parents divorced nine years later.

Bosley joined the Navy in 1945 at 17 ("I'm the only guy I know who went in as a seaman and came out a seaman"), then enrolled in pre-law at DePaul University. In his first year, he switched to acting.

After stock theater in Illinois (with fellow aspirants Paul Newman and Geraldine Page), he flipped a coin in 1950 to decide between New York and Los Angeles. New York won.

For nine years before Fiorello! he acted off-Broadway and in summer stock while working menial jobs to feed himself. Movie and TV roles followed, and in recent years, whenever there was a Happy Days reunion, he could always be counted upon to appear – and tease his TV son, Ron Howard, about not casting him in his movies.

Bosley married twice. His first wife, Jean, a dancer, died in 1978 (they had wed in 1962). His second wife, the former Patricia Carr, survives him. They married in 1980. He also has a daughter, Amy.

Ironically, Bosley's death comes only a few days after that of another iconic '50s TV parent, Barbara Billingsley, of Leave It to Beaver.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Madonna was most recently in a relationship with 24-year-old model Jesus Luz, but apparently she's seeing someone new! The pop star was spotted kissing and laughing with Brahim Zaibat, who is believed to be around 20 years younger than her, in New York last Thursday.

A source at nightspot SL said: "They came in together and were holding hands in a private area. Madonna got up and was dancing for an hour straight before going back to her man. They immediately started making out in front of other guests."

They later moved on to Sullivan Room, where they happily danced together and showed their affection for one another.

A source told the New York Post newspaper: "After working the dance floor, they found more private seating where they hugged and kissed for the rest of the night."

Friends of Brahim -- who was initially misidentified as another dancer, Brahim Rachiki -- say the pair have been dating several months but have wanted to keep the romance under wraps.

One pal told website X17online: "They've been seeing each other for a few months but really keeping it on the down low. Madonna did not want this getting out before she had time to see if things were really going to work out between her and Brahim or not. Things have been going well so she was about to go public with the relationship anyway."

It is unknown when Madonna -- who has four children, Lourdes, 13, Rocco, 10, David, five, and Mercy, four -- split from Jesus, but the hunk has recently been spotted flirting with a number of women in his native Brazil.

Adam Lambert is busy touring – he’s in Australia this week – but the singing sensation has taken the time to share his candid thoughts about the struggles of being young and gay and how “It gets better.”

But Adam doesn’t sugar coat his thoughts for The Trevor Project’s It Gets Better campaign which has gathered all kinds of steam following a string of tragic suicides of bullied gay teens.

“There’s always gonna be people that are scared of it,” Adam says. “But at the end of the day, if you give those bullies and those people that are so ignorant and fearful of your lifestyle, if you give them the power to affect you, you’re letting them win and they don’t deserve that. What you’re doing by being who you are is you’re keeping it real and you’re being really brave. I believe in you, I think it’s great. There are a ton of us out here in this world that are just like you that believe in you.”

Adam admits that he still feels bullied when he reads about himself: “I’m singled out, and it’s all ‘gay,’ ‘gay,’ ‘gay,’ ‘gay,’ ‘gay,’ even though there’s so much more to me than just who I choose to sleep with…. You are so much more than your orientation. You know it, and I know it. So don’t let those bullies and those ignorant, fearful, small-minded people prove you wrong. You have to be strong, and you have to pay attention to the positive, and in doing so, you will push through, and you will rise up, and you will live your life to the fullest. It gets better, but it’s up to you.”

We still have to wait an entire week for Glee‘s much-blogged about Rocky Horror Picture Show episode, and considering the buzz surrounding the Gleeks take on the cult classic, it’s not surprising that there is now some interest in pursuing a feature-length remake.

Deadline is reporting that Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy has met with Fox 2000 to discuss an updated version of Jim Sharman’s 1975 Frankenstein romp, which originally starred Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Barry Bostwick.

Murphy is known for writing and directing some of Glee‘s flashier, more elaborate episodes (like last season’s “The Power of Madonna” and the recent “Britney/Brittany.”)

To date, his feature-length directorial credits include Running With Scissors (2006) and this summer’s Eat Pray Love. Both were memoir adaptations, and both received lukewarm response from critics, but Murphy’s musical touch could be the perfect fit for a Rocky Horror reboot.

What do you think? I’m always up for musicals, but does Rocky Horror need to be redone, or is it better left as is? Given Murphy’s success with Glee, do you think he’s the right choice to do the Time Warp again? Does this just make you more excited for a new episode of Glee?

Cynthia Watros is going back to her nutcase roots. The House and Lost actress — who picked up an Emmy in 1998 for portraying psycho stalker Annie Dutton on Guiding Light — is headed to Desperate Housewives to play Bree’s (literally) crazy friend, sources confirm to me exclusively.

We’ll meet Watros’s character in Housewives‘ ninth episode when she accompanies Bree and new boytoy Keith (Brian Austin Green) on a double date. Rumor has it Watros’ escort for the evening is Keith’s pa, played by John Schneider.

Watros will juggle her one-episode Housewives stint with her current recurring role as Wilson’s ex-wife-turned-girlfriend Sam on House.

Céline Dion is preparing for the birth of her twin boys by checking into the hospital on the advice of her physicians, the singer's rep confirmed to People magazine.

In a statement issued Monday morning, the hospital says, "Ms. Céline Dion has been admitted to St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida for observation at the recommendation of her doctors. She has been admitted to prevent the early delivery of her babies, which is the standard of care for any patient with twin pregnancy in this clinical setting."

The statement makes clear this is a preventive measure, "done to ensure the patient can be in close contact with their doctors and clinical resources, leading up to their birth," it says.

Last week, Dion's husband, René Angélil, told People magazine that, contrary to reports, his wife had not scheduled a C-section to deliver her twins on October 22nd – nor had she made outrageous demands of the hospital.

"There is nothing scheduled," he said. "We do not have a date" for the babies' birth.

Backs Husband's Statement

St. Mary's reiterated Angélil's statement, saying: "Céline and René have placed the health of their babies as their highest priority. Recently, rumors have circulated that Ms. Dion has made certain demands of St. Mary's Medical Center regarding the birth of her children. All of these rumors are false."

The hospital statement continued: "At no time did Ms. Dion or her husband make any special demands or requests of the hospital. She is not scheduled at any predetermined date for her delivery She has not requested or selected any particular staff or accommodations not available to other patients The patient is being treated as any other OB patient who comes to St. Mary’s Medical Center."

The medical facility also noted, "Although the family did not ask us to do so, the hospital has chosen to enhance our security efforts during this time for the convenience and safety of all our patients and their families within this same area of our facility."

In closing, the hospital said, "We look forward to the day of Ms. Dion's delivery of her twins. During this time, we ask the public and the media respect the privacy of all of our patients and their families at our hospital."

Larry Hagman has expressed his doubts over a planned Dallas remake, insisting he's wary of "risking the legacy" he built on the beloved soap.

The actor starred as greedy oil baron J.R. Ewing in all 13 seasons of the hit show, but he's not sure if he wants to take part in a modern TV update.

Hagman admits he could be tempted to join the cast, but only if he didn't have to work daily or promote the show.

He tells Britain's Hello! magazine, "I might be interested. Look, 13 years (of the show) is nice and I got plenty of money. To do it again and risk the legacy I've established... I don't know if it's worth it. I'm thinking about it.

"I'd like to know who's doing it, who's writing it and who's in the show. I don't want to work every day and I'd like not to have to promote it. So, we'll see."

Monday, October 18, 2010

A woman claims that she was propositioned by Christina Aguilera at a popular gay bar in LA. According to the woman, Aguilera, who just filed for divorce from her husband earlier this week, was told that the singer was in an open marriage.

RadarOnline reports:“I was at The Abbey one night when Christina’s bodyguard approached me,” a woman who wishes to remain anonymous told RadarOnline.com.

“He said, ‘My boss would really like you’ and pointed over to Christina.” The source said Christina waved to her, but that she was confused because her husband Jordan was at the bar with her. “The bodyguard told me it was an understanding within their marriage and that she brings girls home and Jordan’s okay with it,” the woman said. “I met Christina in the bathroom and she told me she liked to play with girls. “I ended up not pursuing anything with it because the situation just seemed so weird to me, but Christina was definitely looking to hook up.”

According to the source, Christina has been known to frequently approach women while out at gay bars in Los Angeles. “It’s funny because I had a couple girlfriends tell me that they were approached by Christina too,” the source said. “My understanding was that Jordan wasn’t involved when she brought girls home."

Back in May, Aguilera told Out Magazine that, while she finds women attractive, there's one thing she can't live without: "My husband knows that I get into girls. I think it's fun to be open and play. The line is real to me. My husband and I check in with each other, but I definitely love women. I think they're more attractive to the naked eye. I don't think I could ever really be with a woman...And you know, I love dick. To be honest, that I cannot live without."

1980s singer Marilyn says he is pleased that Gavin Rossdale has told the truth about their relationship – but claims he did it for publicity.

The 47-year-old singer, who's real name is Peter Robinson, said last year that he and the Bush singer had a five-year relationship.

Rossdale had always denied the claims until this week, when he told Details magazine that he had a "fear" about the relationship becoming public and called it a "part of growing up".

Marilyn said he was "pleased" Rossdale had admitted the relationship, but added: "I find it sad that when I spoke out about what we had, I was labelled a tattle tale – and now Gavin is using it to promote himself."

In 1995, Boy George claimed the pair began the affair when Rossdale was 17, before Bush hit the big time.

Last year, Marilyn said Rossdale had been the "love of my life". "I agreed to lie against every grain of my being," he said. "We were together five years, but it felt like 40."

Rossdale now reportedly has to explain the relationship to his wife Gwen Stefani.

She was said to be shocked in 2004 when a paternity test revealed him to be the father of model Daisy Lowe.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

“My guess is as good as anybody’s,” shrugs newest Glee cast member Darren Criss of reports that his character Blaine—a charismatic, out-and-proud gay teen from a rival school—is being groomed as a love interest for Chris Colfer’s Kurt. “It’s a really big secret.”

The two meet in the November 9th episode when Kurt, who is fast becoming fed up with life at McKinley High, considers transferring to the nearby Dalton Academy, where Criss’ character is a student. “I think Blaine’s most important role is…as a mentor to Kurt,” says Criss, whose only major pre-Glee TV credit was a stint on ABC’s short-lived Eastwick. “At this point, Kurt’s [sexuality] has been such a sense of discord in his life. Blaine finds [being gay] empowering. He embraces who he is, and sees Kurt [struggling with] the same things that he had to deal with, and I think he wants to impart that knowledge.”

Criss hopes Blaine will serve as a positive role model for viewers as well, given the recent string of suicides among gay youth. “It’s great to see a strong character like this on a hit show that so many people are watching,” he says. “I can’t really think of any other gay characters on TV that are this young and sure of themselves. I hope all the kids struggling with this issue can look to a guy like Blaine and feel [inspired] by his confidence.”

From his breakthrough in Angels in America to roles in Hard Candy, Little Children and Lakeview Terrace, he always delivers.

Lucky Brandon Voss got to chat with Patrick for The Advocate. Here are some highlights:

As an accomplished Broadway performer, were you aware of your gay fans before Angels?Well, remember I did The Full Monty, so yeah, I was pretty conscious of the gay fans. [Laughs] But no amount of musicals can compare to the importance of Angels in the gay community, so I do think I gained a whole new legion of fans.

What does the support of the gay community mean to you?It means a ton to me, and it’s something I take a lot of pride in. It’s silly in hindsight because everyone was awesome and convincing in their roles whatever their own sexual orientation is, but there were a few eyebrows raised before Angels came out because the majority of the male leads were straight. Regardless of the talent pool, people were like, How are they gonna pull this off? I understand the impact Angels has had on the gay community, so the fact that they thought I pulled it off was the best compliment I could get. I felt validated. You always hope you’ll have the confirmation of a core fan base; the gay community’s the core fan base of Angels, so that confirmation was a huge relief. Obviously, you don’t make a movie just for core fans, but that’s certainly where it starts.

You haven’t played gay since Angels. Why not?There’s no rhyme and reason, but that is kind of funny, right? I really haven’t been offered a lot of gay characters. It didn’t get to the point where I auditioned, but I remember when Brokeback Mountain was happening early on—before they knew if it was going to work with Heath and Jake. But when I was sent the Brokeback Mountain script, I didn’t bat an eye. That was pretty soon after Angels came out, but I couldn’t have cared less if I only did two roles on screen and one was Joe Pitt and the other was in Brokeback. I don’t care whether a role’s gay or straight; if it’s good, it’s good.

As an actor who tackled one of the most memorable closet cases in contemporary literature, what’s your take on the Hollywood closet?I don’t know—I feel like I could get in trouble either way. There are older actors that all of us in the business look at and think, Oh, come on. One side of me is like, Why don’t they just come out? But if they don’t want to, it’s nobody’s business. If coming out helps someone feel great and further a personal cause, that’s awesome, but I just wish no one cared. Every time I hear somebody came out, it doesn’t mean anything to me. It’s such a personal thing, and the last thing you’d want is for someone to feel like they needed to do it. I don’t know what that gains other than making some tabloid reader feel validated, like, “I knew it!” or “That’s shocking!” Then again, I don’t know that struggle. But no one’s calling me to ask about all the women I’ve slept with, so why does anyone need to tell people who they’re sleeping with? It’s a side of the business that I really detest. I don’t want anyone to know anything about me. You know, early on when we were dating, my wife asked me, “Did you care if anyone thought you were gay after Angels in America?” I said, “No, I hope they thought I was gay, Republican, a lawyer, and Mormon. Then I did my job.”

No complaints that you appear in various states of undress for almost every role, but your bare ass practically has more IMDb credits than you do. Have you ever felt sexually objectified?I have, but not in the scenes that you’d think. You should talk to my lawyer, because if it were up to me I’d never do it except for when it’s really called for, like in Angels, Little Children, and Watchmen. Joe has to be naked in Angels because he has to strip everything away. You have to see them naked in Little Children because it’s got to be hot and raw like Body Heat. I had to be seen naked from behind in Watchmen because that’s one of the coolest panels in the comic. But then there are the things where a director will go, “Why don’t you be shirtless in this scene?” I’ll say, “Why am I shirtless?” “Uh…” “Ah, you see?!” At least I could justify it in Lakeview Terrace because it was 115 degrees out.

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